Electronics toy play set

Abstract

A toy play set comprising a master toy member structured to interface with a family of accessory toy members. Each accessory toy member comprises an electronics identification means to be recognized by said master toy member. Each accessory toy member is also programmable to modify the personal characteristics of said accessory toy member according to a game play.

Description

[0001]This is a continuation in part application of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 242,847 filed Sep. 13, 2002, which is the formal patent application of U.S. provisional patent application 60 / 324,202 filed Sep. 22, 2001. This is also a continuation in part of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 208,346 filed Jul. 30, 2002, Ser. No. 10 / 241,340 filed Sep. 10, 2002 and Ser. No. 10 / 638,706 filed Aug. 8, 2003.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to an electronics toy play set that comprises a portable master toy member and a family of accessory toy members.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Traditional electronics interactive games categories are divided into arcade games, computer games, TV games and handheld games. Arcade games, computer games and TV games are provided with powerful computing devices and big screens. Portable games are mostly supported with a small LCD screen. All these electronics game platforms are suitable for providing compe...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021]Although the master and accessory toy play set concept applies to car racing games. The electronics and mechanical structure also enable the game unit to work with action toy figures, quiz games and education toys. In another preferred embodiment that works with male action games, the racing car described are replaced by two action figures. Each action figure is defined with specific personal characteristics that can be upgraded or downgraded. Different game rules to upgrade or downgrade each action figure are carefully defined to enhance the game play value. More than two receivers and multiple action figures can be arranged to provide a more complex strategic game play. In yet another preferred embodiment, instead of using two memory storage cartridges to store the data defining the personal characteristics of different accessory toy members, two miniature portable master game units can be plugged into a larger master toy unit that receives an array of accessory toys.

[0022]The upgradable toy design not only adds play value to the toy play set, it also offer unparallel advantage to the marketing planning of launching a new toy series. In a preferred method of marketing, a master toy member is launched together with a first series of accessory toy members, each predefined with a certain capability characteristics. When the toy series is well accepted by the market, there is always a drive to offer second or third generations of the toy series for the toy company to generate new revenue. Overhauling a toy series is challenging that imposes a risk for toy companies because users are required to abandon the old toys that they have. According to this invention, a second series of accessory toy members can be added to supplement the original play set previously launched. In order to attract the users to buy new accessory toy members, the new accessory toy member can be enriched with specific super capability, such as higher engine power that can overcome some steep slope. The game can be further programmed such that any accessory vehicle in the first launch is not able to overcome some specific challenges; only a specific super power vehicle offered in the second launch is capable to achieve a new level of a game play.

Problems solved by technology

Different issues such as power supply, weight and sizes are to be encountered when designing a portable game unit.

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